Even If He Does Not
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June 10, 2012 |
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 "Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-nego replied to the king, 'O Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to give you an answer concerning this matter. If it be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the furnace of blazing fire; and He will deliver us out of your hand, O king. But even if He does not, let it be known to you, O king, that we are not going to serve your gods or worship the golden image that you have set up.'" (Daniel 3:16-18)
Today, many people seek their own benefits and expect to get something in return for what they do. Rather than seeking others' benefit and sacrificing themselves they give just in payment for what the other has done. They even request for some conditions when they perform their duty.
It's natural that a married couple should love each other, parents raise their children, and children honor their parents. But today people give love and perform duty depending on their benefits. How could it be considered as true love or goodness in God's sight?
What then is the goodness that is acceptable and pleasing to God? Let's look into the goodness of Daniel's three friends who were taken as captives in the time of Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon.
1. Daniel's three friends kept their faith.
One day, Nebuchadnezzar the king made an image of gold. He sent a word to assemble the satraps, the prefects, the governors, the counselors, the treasurers, the judges, the magistrates and all the rulers of the provinces to come to the dedication of the image that he had set up. And he ordered them to fall down and worship the golden image. He even said, "But whoever does not fall down and worship shall immediately be cast into the midst of a furnace of blazing fire" (Daniel 3:1-7).
His word was also sent to Daniel's three friends who held the official positions although they were captives from Jerusalem. But they never fell down before the image because they believed in and served God. In Daniel 3:17-18 they confessed, "If it be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the furnace of blazing fire; and He will deliver us out of your hand, O king. But even if He does not, let it be known to you, O king, that we are not going to serve your gods or worship the golden image that you have set up."
They made such a courageous profession that they were not going to worship an idol even if God wouldn't save them. It doesn't mean because they had no assurance that God would save them, but because their trust and love for Him would never change even if He wouldn't save them. They placed complete trust and reliance on God who is their souls' master.
They just gave thanks even when they were to lose their life. When they did not fall down before the image, the king got furious and had them be thrown into the blazing furnace that was heated seven times more than it had usually been (Daniel 3:19-23).
But something stunningly amazing happened. The fire had no effect on their bodies, nor was hair of their head singed. The king watched them, became greatly amazed, and gave glory to God. He even made a decree making people fear for God who had saved Daniel's three friends and exalted them in the Babylon (Daniel 3:28-30).
This gives us a lesson that facing trials without any fault is for God to give us greater blessing. God beforehand knew that Daniel's three friends would not forsake their faith even before death, so He allowed them the test to reveal His glory greatly.
2. Faith with which we can willingly give our life
You have to check yourselves closely whether you have expected to receive solutions to your problems by chance without doing what you are supposed to do or given up in frustration before difficulties.
Someone says to God in prayer as follows: "If You answer my prayer for my business, I'll serve You more sincerely. I will give You more offerings and pray more diligently if You make my business more prosperous." But this person should first show the deeds of sowing—prayer, offerings, and services believing that God lets us reap whatever we have sown. Then, he can reap when the proper time comes.
The same applies to those who suffer diseases. A sick person might say, "If You heal me, I'll render volunteer services and be more faithful for Your kingdom." Such prayers cannot move God's heart. He has to discover what the cause of his disease is by looking back upon his life and to give thanks to God who leads him to discover and cast away his sins and helps him attain to the level of spirit.
Daniel's three friends didn't have conditional faith but such strong faith as they could willingly give their lives. In the same way, even if God doesn't answer your prayer, you should give thanks to God believing there is God's good will for that. If you possess the same faith as Daniel's three friends did, God will rejoice with you and be with you and then you can escape from death.
All men were destined to suffer in the everlasting Hell as descendants of Adam who had sinned. But Jesus, God's only begotten Son came to earth to redeem them from their sins and took the suffering of the cross and died on it. Therefore, anyone who accepts Jesus Christ as his Savior can be forgiven of all his sins, receive salvation and enjoy eternal life in the beautiful Heaven. Only with this fact, you have to rejoice always and give thanks even if you don't receive answers to your prayers.
3. Apostle Paul didn't spare his life for the Lord
The apostle Paul's heart for the Lord was not changed even before any sufferings until he died after he met the Lord. In Acts 20:24, he said, "But I do not consider my life of any account as dear to myself, so that I may finish my course and the ministry which I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify solemnly of the gospel of the grace of God."
In Acts chapter 21, a prophet named Agabus said, "This is what the Holy Spirit says: 'In this way the Jews at Jerusalem will bind the man who owns this belt and deliver him into the hands of the Gentiles.'" Then Paul answered, "… For I am ready not only to be bound, but even to die at Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus." His faith wasn't swayed or he didn't either compromise or feel afraid of death.
It is the same as recorded in 2 Corinthians 11:23-27, which reads, "Are they servants of Christ—I speak as if insane—I more so; in far more labors, in far more imprisonments, beaten times without number, often in danger of death. Five times I received from the Jews thirty-nine lashes. Three times I was beaten with rods, once I was stoned, three times I was shipwrecked, a night and a day I have spent in the deep. I have been on frequent journeys, in dangers from rivers, dangers from robbers, dangers from my countrymen, dangers from the Gentiles, dangers in the city, dangers in the wilderness, dangers on the sea, dangers among false brethren; I have been in labor and hardship, through many sleepless nights, in hunger and thirst, often without food, in cold and exposure."
The apostle Paul only rejoiced and gave thanks with unconditional faith in the Lord. Even when he was in prison, he told the believers to rejoice always, pray without ceasing, and give thanks in any circumstance as recorded in 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18. In reality, he was beaten, imprisoned, and driven away, but he didn't feel any difficulty. He just gave thanks to the Lord for changing such a person as had persecuted believers into a person who could be persecuted for the Lord's name's sake. He just tried his best to repay the price of the Lord's blood by saving a single more soul.
Dear brothers and sisters in Christ, how joyful and thankful were you when tests and trials came to you? I pray in the name of the Lord you will achieve a victory and give glory to God just like Daniel's three friends and the apostle Paul who showed good examples of faith.
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